Plant Demolition Push Gets Support

June 18, 1992|By MICHAEL KORETZKY, Staff Writer

BOYNTON BEACH -- For the past two months, City Commissioner Robert Walshak has been trying --- with no success --- to persuade his four counterparts to tear down the old wastewater treatment plant on Northwest 14th Avenue at Fourth Street.

On Tuesday night, Walshak picked up a reluctant ally: City Commissioner Jose Aguila.

``I believe the time has come to demolish this site,`` Aguila said. ``It`s not going to get any cheaper and it`s not going away.``

But Aguila said he knew the other commissioners would not agree to spend $120,000 to tear the plant down, so he proposed a compromise: a $30,000 landscaping plan.

``If we`re going to continue to be stubborn about this, at least we can do a little paint-up, fix-up,`` he said.

That led to yet another 30-minute debate on the issue, which Walshak first raised at a meeting in early April. And at nearly every meeting, residents from northeastern neighborhoods have come to support Walshak.

``What do I have to do to convince you that people are adamant about this?`` an exasperated Rev. Sebron Akins asked commissioners on Tuesday. ``Do I need to fill this commission chamber?``

It may take that to budge other commissioners. While Aguila pushed his landscaping plan, Vice Mayor Lynne Matson softened her position.

``I`m not prepared to spend any money on this until the budget hearings,`` she said, referring to the city`s summertime redrawing of the annual budget. ``That`s in about four weeks. I don`t see why we can`t wait four weeks on this.``

Mayor Arline Weiner and Commissioner Ed Harmening remained staunchly opposed to spending money that could be used on construction for demolishing something instead.

``We don`t have the money for this, and I`m not in favor of it until we do,`` Harmening said.

Because Walshak held out for demolition and other commissioners stuck to their pledge not to spend money on a deserted plant, Aguila`s motion finally died for lack of a second.

``You won`t hear me talking about this topic again,`` Aguila said, balling up a piece of paper and throwing it down.